NEW ASDA APPLICATION

After their application was refused, Asda have gone to appeal.
In the meantime they have submitted a new application, and we’ve had the following info so far from the council (in fact, from Shaun Scrutton the Head of Planning Services)

“Chris, for information, a revised application has now been submitted. In brief the details are as follows:

The residential element has been completely removed from the scheme. I have not checked, but I think the building may be slightly longer on the Rawreth Lane frontage, but largely the same in design terms.

The layout plan also shows a revised junction arrangement including a left turn lane and a pedestrian phase. This revision is not required by highways, but is intended to give the junction even greater capacity and add the option for pedestrians, which was not previously included.

You will also want to look at the supporting statements in due course, but we have not yet validated the application.

I understand Asda will also be proposing their ?40k contribution could be used for an ‘upgrade’ of the Rawreth Lane/Hambro Hill roundabout incorporating new skid resistance surfaces.”

Now this application is in, Chris and Ron will consider it on its planning merits – so don’t expect us to offer an opinion on whether it is acceptable or not.

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I object to the ASDA planning application for the very simple reasons that I will now list.

1. We have a very adequate Chemist in Hambro Parade.
2. We do not need an extra 400 cars an hour coming up Rawreth lane.
3. It would destroy Rayleigh high Street, already suffering after the Websters Way farce.
4. Once we have this number of cars coming up and down the road, the Council would then request part of Pinkerton’s land be commissioned so making a wider road, this would then lead to even more building.
A mini roundabout would become a major roundabout.
5. The area cannot take any further building and no amount of bribery by ASDA will alleviate the problems that will arise.

There is so much to be said against the Asda planning application. Haven’t got much time at mo, so I’ll be brief today.

This application for Asda has more traffic movements quoted, than it’s previous application! One of the reasons the first application was refused was because of the high volume of traffic.

The turnover of Asda is expected to be about £23,000,000. Budgens in Hullbridge has less than £3,000,000 turnover! The proposed Asda has been compared to Somerfield in Rayleigh with regards its size BUT figures quoted for Somerfield are £8,470,000 turnover! This gives an idea of the expected customer movements.

As a resident of Rawreth Lane I have received your hand delivered letter.

Looking at it as dispassionately as possible (as a resident) I am a little concerned about the strength of the case:-

1) Traffic increase – although I think everyone is agreed there will be an increase in traffic, it doesn’t look like it would reach the levels of other areas of Rayleigh (eg. Eastwood Road, Hockley Road, Crown Hill) so I’m not sure how much sympathy we would/should get. Secondly, there doesn’t seem to be anything about an accompanying reduction in through traffic. The majority of Hullbridge residents who (we can assume) shop at Tesco (A127) or Sainsburys (Weir) may swap to Asda; this would reduce through traffic both on Rawreth Lane and (more importantly) Rayleigh High Street.

2) Loss of business for Rayleigh – History tells us that new stores bring new business as well as taking existing business. If the council is looking to help Rayleigh town centre perhaps they ought to look at other reasons why people refuse to shop there. One of these is the level of traffic getting into Rayleigh (see above) and the other is the fact that the council insists on charging for car parking space. This is surely something that has past its sellby date given the competition of out of town centres with free parking.

3) Commitment to neighbourhood friendly facilities – I don’t think it is reasonable to ask the planners to detail who/what will be there. For example, Wimpy wouldn’t be committing to placing a cafe somewhere that hasn’t even got planning permission for a supermarket.

I therefore feel that we need to consider the inevitable that there isn’t good cause to turn the application down and should concentrate on what we do need; that being an assurance that through traffic will not be impacted by the development. To that end I would say we need, in the area of the development, the road to be widened both to allow a turn right only lane (from the A1245 into the development) plus a long slip road coming from the other direction. This is, I believe, a more pragmatic way to influence the development

In brief, I am concerned primarily about the amount of traffic this large Asda store will generate from the wider areas of Rayleigh.

Living far down Rawreth Lane, near the 60 speed limit, the shops at Hambro Hill are a very long walk and not to mention an unpleasant one with all the traffic and narrow pavements. With parking there a hassel too, I usually end up at Sainsbury’s or Bugens in Hullbridge.

I feel a large store will be to the detriment of our local community (through the extra traffic and possible loss of earnings frm other businesses) but feel a smaller ‘metro’ store would be an advantage, not to mention a great convenience to my area where at the moment we have nothing.

I LIVE ON RAWRETH LANE AND HAVE TROUBLE GETTING ON AND OFF MY DRIVE AS IT IS,
CERTAINLY DONT NEED ALL THE ASDA TRAFFIC ASWELL,!!!!!!!

THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL ROAD WITH WIDE OPEN SPACES

CANT WE JUST KEEP IT THAT WAY?

I AM ALSO IN THE PROCESS OF APPEALING TO THE COUNCIL TO HAVE THE ROAD SLOWED DOWN TO 30MPH AS I FEEL ITS FAR TOO DANGEROUS AT 70MPH AT MY END,
IF YOU FEEL THE SAME YOU SHOULD SEND IN YOUR LETTERS OF COMPLAINT NOW ,
THE MORE OF US WHO SPEAK UP THE MORE THEY WILL HAVE TO LISTEN,,

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